Abstract
This study was carried out to evaluate the effects of fractions of methanol(MeOH) extracts of Lycopus lucidic Turcz on hyperglycemia and energy metabolites in streptozotocin(STZ) diabetic rats. Diabetes mellitus was induced in male Sprague-Dawley rats weighing 200-220 g by an injection of STZ dissolved in a citrate buffer into the tail vein at a dose of 45 mg/kg of body weight, and the rats were divided into 7 groups, that is, one normal group and 6 diabetic groups: STZ-control, hexane, chloroform(CHCl$\sub$3/). ethylacetate(EtOAc), butanol(BuOH) and H$\sub$2/O fraction-fed groups. All groups were fed an AIN-93 diet and the fractions of Lycopus lucidic Turcz were administered orally with 2 % Tween 80 for 14 days after the STZ injection. Body weight, diet intake and organ weights were monitored. The plasma levels of blood glucose, insulin and protein were determined. The plasma concentrations of cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, triglycerides and free fatty acid were assayed. The plasma activities of aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase(ALT) were also measured. Body weight losses were observed by feeding the fractions of Lycopus lucidic Turcz in STZ experimental groups, and the kidney weight was increased. The extent of blood glucose decrement was significantly greater in the hexane and BuOH fraction-fed groups than STZ-control group. The plasma protein level was significantly lower in the H$\sub$2/O fraction-fed group. The plasma cholesterol level was decreased in BuOH and H$\sub$2/O fraction-fed groups compared with the STZ-control group. The levels of free fatty acids in the CHC1$\sub$3/ and H$\sub$2/O fraction-fed groups were significantly decreased(p<0.05). ALT activitiy of BuOH fraction-fed group was lower than control but it was not significantly different. These results suggest that the fractions of Lycopus lucidic Turcz are capable of lowering blood glucose and fat metabolites concentrations when administered to STZ-treated rats, and AST/ALT activity and insulin levels show the possibility of therapeutic use to diabetes mellitus.